If Ye Break Faith With Us Who Die

 Today in Canada is Remembrance Day; the date of the end of the First World War. It goes by other names in the world, but is a common day of commemoration for war dead and those who served. I have some pictures today first featured at my photoblog over the last few years. Some years ago in April I paid a visit to the historic Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa, where two large sections have been set aside as a national military cemetery.

The National War Memorial occupies the heart of Confederation Square, and is the subject of regular photographs by me. It was dedicated in the months before World War Two, and has since been re-dedicated in memory of those who fought and died in Canada's other wars and military service.

The Memorial is the heart of Canada's national Remembrance Day services, with all that you'd expect out of the occasion- including a march past of the veterans.

This photo, taken at night on April 8th, 2017, was during an evening vigil to mark the centennial of one of the most momentous battles of Canadian history. From April 9th-12th, 1917, Canadian soldiers fought to take Vimy Ridge, achieving victory in doing so, something no other Allied force had been able to do. It is one of the most consequential moments in the country's history.

A soldier who fought at Vimy has his final resting place here. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is the most sacred spot in the country since its installation in 2000. Each Remembrance Day since, citizens place poppies on the tomb. This was taken late one Remembrance Day some years ago.

I finish today with this remarkable painting that was on exhibit as part of a special exhibit several years ago at the Canadian War Museum. Byam Shaw painted The Flag in 1918, and the anguish of those left behind by the dead of war is its subject.

Scarce Heard Amid The Guns Below

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, 

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

The Canadian soldier, doctor, and poet John McCrae wrote the poem In Flanders Fields during the dark days of World War One. It is among a collection of his poetry published posthumously after he died of pneumonia in January 1918 at Boulogne in France at the front. The poem has endured for a century after its first publication in a magazine in 1915, and has taken on a life of its own around the world as a tribute to the fallen of war.

The Canadian artist Ruth Abernethy created a twin pair of sculptures of McCrae in 2015. One was placed in his childhood home town of Guelph, Ontario. The second was placed on Green Island here in Ottawa, where the Rideau River splits into two branches and tumbles into the Ottawa River. This place already has a number of military monuments, and the placement of McCrae's statue, larger than life and quite life-like and expressive, features the soldier sitting, holding the poem in hand, looking up at the horizon. Poppies are incorporated at the base of the sculpture, touched by red. From time to time I have photographed it, and these shots date from visits made in 2016 and posted to my photoblog at the time. With the centennial of the end of World War One coming tomorrow, it felt fitting to post this here today. Tomorrow at the photoblog I will feature this spot again from a visit made in October, starting off a series about Remembrance Day that will take up the better part of the rest of the month.

A Fine Weekend For The Army Run

As I'm busy over at my photoblog, including with a post on the recent tornado here scheduled for tomorrow, I thought I'd present this photo post here today. The Canada Army Run is an annual event on a weekend in September in Ottawa, held this past weekend. It's been going on for over a decade, with military members, active and retired, participating along with their families in a series of races, including a marathon. I was late to the event on Sunday, as most of the runners had already crossed the finish line. There were a number of displays at our City Hall and neighbouring Cartier Square drill hall featuring military vehicles and equipment. 

This is the TAPV, a general utility vehicle used for reconnaissance and personnel transport.

The LAV 60 is a light armoured vehicle used for infantry transport and support in both combat and non combat situations.

The Buffalo is one part of a set of vehicles used in the detection and disposal of IEDs and other such weapons. Collectively the set are referred to as Expedient Route Opening Capability teams, and the Buffalo investigates potential threats. It's a big one, and well armoured given the requirements of its job. An expandable arm offers distance for the Buffalo in investigating a potential threat.

The Husky is the second part of that team. This vehicle is used to detect threats via the use of ground penetrating radar and metal detectors. The third and last part of the team is the Cougar, a transport for the Explosive Ordnance Disposal operators who actually handle disarming a bomb.

The M777 Howitzer is lighter and smaller than previous models like the M109, but offers more power and precision. At 9200 pounds, it is more mobile than its predecessor (the M109 for comparison is 49 940 pounds) and transportable by truck, helicopter, and aircraft. Its maximum range allows for accurate fire up to 30 kilometres.

The Bison armoured vehicle is a multipurpose transport that started out as an infantry carrier but serves numerous purposes- security, reconnaissance, command post, and in this case as an ambulance.

This is the Drill Hall, which still serves as a military facility, and dates to 1879. During the summer, the bulk of the Ceremonial Guard march out of here each morning towards Parliament Hill for the Changing Of The Guard ceremony.

This is the Medium Support Vehicle System (MSVS) truck, a multipurpose logistics truck for moving or towing gear into operations. 

And lest we forget that there was an actual race going on, here we have the finish line. As I was late in the proceedings, most of the runners had already passed through, but the finish line officials were on hand welcoming those finishing a marathon race.

The Dragon Boats Upon The River

As I am busy over at my photoblog with a series on Doors Open, I have a post here today on last weekend's Dragon Boat Festival here in Ottawa. In its twenty fifth year, the event takes place down at Mooney's Bay, a wide stretch of the Rideau River where the river and the Rideau Canal part ways for the last time as they both head through the city core towards their end. This view of the bay is from the bridge crossing to the north- dragon boats were being rowed into position after a race.

This is a regular feature here at the bay, a pirate boat which goes out sailing regularly and hosts, among other things, children's birthdays.

The park area was busy, with many teams under shelters in between times out on the water. Spectators were taking in the events, and parents had their children out in the large playground that is here.

Here we have some of the teams at rest. This is a big event, raising money for charities, and bringing in  teams from near and far for the weekend.

Here we have a view of the bay. One of the teams was rowing their way upstream to get into place.

The calm before a race. This was as far as I could go- I imagine the fellow on the dock was an official photographer with the organization that puts this event together each year. This is thought to be the largest such event of its kind in North America, with over two hundred rowing teams involved during the course of the four day event.

And they were off, rowing their hearts off down a two hundred metre stretch to the finish line.

With one race done, another set of dragon boat racers were heading off towards their place at the start line.

There were some unusual characters out and about in the park, including members of a local Star Wars cosplay group- Imperials in this case.

The park is dominated by a large hill overlooking the water. I went up to the top and got in views of the bay and the surrounding area. A stage is set up for concerts in the evenings during the festival.